Clinical translation of 3D bioprinting for cartilage repair: a biomaterial perspective

3D-printed medical devices and surgical tools are actively used in patients and within our healthcare system. Even as the bioprinting industry has seen significant growth in the past decade, bioprinted cellularized constructs still face substantial translational challenges. Present throughout the body, cartilage is an avascular tissue with limited regenerative capabilities and has been the subject of intensive research in the fields of tissue engineering and 3D bioprinting. In this review, we summarize the different types of cartilage, highlight key injuries or medical conditions within each cartilage type, discuss the use of natural and synthetic materials in cartilage repair, and present the most recent developments in translating 3D bioprinted cartilage constructs from bench to bedside. Emphasizing novel biomaterials and clinical translation, we highlight the current status quo of cartilage treatments, the translational challenges that the industry faces and finally, the opportunities for next-generation cartilage treatment options using 3D bioprinting. While challenges still lie ahead of clinical translation, 3D bioprinting demonstrates great potential as a fabrication technique for cartilage tissue-engineered constructs used in surgical implantation.